Elon Musk's Political Influence: Staff Contributions to Kamala Harris Outshine Trump

Elon Musk's Influence on Political Donations

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced his support for Republican former President Donald Trump for the upcoming US presidential election. However, workers in his companies are majorly donating to rival Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. Workers at Musk’s electric car company Tesla have contributed $42,824 to Harris's presidential campaign, compared to $24,840 towards the Trump campaign, according to data from OpenSecrets.

Contribution Insights from Musk's Companies

Similarly, employees at SpaceX contributed $34,526 to Harris, while they donated only $7,652 to Trump. At the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), employees donated $13,213 to Harris's campaign, with contributions to Trump being less than $500. While these figures are relatively small in the context of presidential fundraising, they reflect the political leanings of Musk’s staff despite their owner's open support for Trump.

Political Dynamics Ahead of the Election

During the 2020 election, Musk supported President Joe Biden but has shifted his allegiance this time, leaning towards the right. As Trump prepares for the November election, he has announced plans to appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if he wins. According to Reuters, OpenSecrets reports include contributions from company employees and their immediate family members, adhering to campaign finance laws that prohibit corporate donations to federal campaigns.

The US presidential election is set for November 5, where the fates of Trump and Harris will soon be determined.